How do I install vault-cortex?

You can install vault-cortex by adding it to your MCP client configuration (Cursor, Claude, VS Code, etc.) or by using the Stork MCP meta-server to discover and configure it automatically.

vault-cortex

Set up a Vault Cortex MCP server for your Obsidian vault in one command: npx vault-cortex init

build.protocol_tooling.mcp#mcp#mcp-server#model-context-protocol#obsidian#obsidian-mcp#obsidian-vault#ai-memory#memory#knowledge-base#note-taking

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Install vault-cortex in your MCP client

vault-cortex is a Model Context Protocol server. Add it to your MCP client config once, restart, and the server's tools become available to your AI assistant. The same JSON snippet below works across all four major clients — only the config file path differs.

Locate your client's MCP config file.
- Cursor: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
- Claude Desktop (macOS): ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
- Claude Desktop (Windows): %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
- VS Code: Settings → Extensions → MCP
- Windsurf: Settings → MCP Servers
Add vault-cortex to the mcpServers map — paste the snippet below into your config file. If you already have other MCP servers, merge the entry into the existing mcpServers object.
Restart your client so it picks up the new server.
Verify — ask the assistant to list available tools; vault-cortex's tools should appear.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vault-cortex": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "vault-cortex"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Install vault-cortex in Cursor

Open ~/.cursor/mcp.json in your editor, paste the snippet above into mcpServers, save, and restart Cursor. vault-cortex will show up in the assistant's tool list on next launch.

Install vault-cortex in Claude Desktop (macOS)

Open ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json in your editor, paste the snippet above into mcpServers, save, and restart Claude Desktop (macOS). vault-cortex will show up in the assistant's tool list on next launch.

Install vault-cortex in Claude Desktop (Windows)

Open %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json in your editor, paste the snippet above into mcpServers, save, and restart Claude Desktop (Windows). vault-cortex will show up in the assistant's tool list on next launch.

Install vault-cortex in VS Code

Open Settings → Extensions → MCP in your editor, paste the snippet above into mcpServers, save, and restart VS Code. vault-cortex will show up in the assistant's tool list on next launch.

npm package: vault-cortex

Transport

vault-cortex supports the following MCP transports. Most AI clients use stdio by default for locally-installed servers.

stdio

From the vault-cortex README

# vault-cortex (CLI) Set up a [Vault Cortex](https://github.com/aliasunder/vault-cortex) MCP server for your Obsidian vault in one command: ```bash npx vault-cortex@latest init ``` Vault Cortex is a standalone, remote-capable MCP server that gives any AI agent hybrid search, task management, structured memory, and read/write access to your Obsidian vault — plus read-only access to its images, canvases, and data files — see the [full feature overview](https://github.com/aliasunder/vault-cortex#what-you-get). The server runs as a Docker container; this CLI scaffolds the config and manages the container so you don't have to. ![npx vault-cortex init — the interactive setup wizard picks a mode, finds your vault, generates the config, and starts the server](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/…

Other Model Context Protocol servers in the same space as vault-cortex. Each one adds different capabilities to your AI assistant — pick based on the data sources or workflows you need.

Browse the full MCP server directory or use Stork's one-line install to let your agent pick the right server automatically.